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Multi-Package Shipments

Why use multi-package shipping?

When you use multi-package shipping, you’re able to group packages, get discounted rates, and retrieve a one to many “master” tracking number.

Carrier Support

Not all carriers, and not all services support multi-package shipping. To learn which services support multi-package check the is_multi_package_supported property when making a List Carriers or List Carrier Services call.

Current carriers that have Multi-Package services include: FedEx, UPS, DHL Express, DHL Express Canada, DHL Express UK, FirstMile, Purolator Canada.

Package Types

All multi-package shipment labels created via ShipEngine will use the standard package type of package. This is because carrier-specific packaging is not widely supported by carriers for multi-package shipping.

Rate requests for multi-package shipments that include carrier-specific package types may return rates. However, any labels created from the quoted rates will update the package type to package.

Example

POST /v1/labels

Example Request:

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POST /v1/labels HTTP/1.1
Host: api.shipengine.com
API-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__
Content-Type: application/json
{
"shipment": {
"service_code": "fedex_express_saver",
"ship_to": {
"name": "Amanda Miller",
"phone": "555-555-5555",
"address_line1": "525 S Winchester Blvd",
"city_locality": "San Jose",
"state_province": "CA",
"postal_code": "95128",
"country_code": "US",
"address_residential_indicator": "yes"
},
"ship_from": {
"company_name": "Example Corp.",
"name": "John Doe",
"phone": "111-111-1111",
"address_line1": "4009 Marathon Blvd",
"address_line2": "Suite 300",
"city_locality": "Austin",
"state_province": "TX",
"postal_code": "78756",
"country_code": "US",
"address_residential_indicator": "no"
},
"insurance_provider": "carrier",
"packages": [
{
"weight": {
"value": 10.0,
"unit": "ounce"
},
"insured_value": {
"amount": 110.00,
"currency": "USD"
},
"dimensions": {
"length": 10,
"height": 10,
"width": 10,
"unit": "inch"
}
},
{
"weight": {
"value": 20.0,
"unit": "ounce"
},
"insured_value": {
"amount": 200.00,
"currency": "USD"
},
"dimensions": {
"length": 15,
"height": 15,
"width": 15,
"unit": "inch"
}
}
]
}
}

Example Response:

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{
"label_id": "se-120646641",
"status": "completed",
"shipment_id": "se-236897068",
"ship_date": "2022-01-04T00:00:00Z",
"created_at": "2022-01-04T19:13:22.3055032Z",
"shipment_cost": {
"currency": "usd",
"amount": 205.69
},
"insurance_cost": {
"currency": "usd",
"amount": 6.3
},
"tracking_number": "794699375744",
"is_return_label": false,
"rma_number": null,
"is_international": false,
"batch_id": "",
"carrier_id": "se-121495",
"service_code": "fedex_express_saver",
"package_code": "package",
"voided": false,
"voided_at": null,
"label_format": "pdf",
"display_scheme": "label",
"label_layout": "4x6",
"trackable": true,
"label_image_id": null,
"carrier_code": "fedex",
"tracking_status": "in_transit",
"label_download": {
"pdf": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/WJe_Vy3P20K8TUEt-a_5YQ/label-120646641.pdf",
"zpl": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/WJe_Vy3P20K8TUEt-a_5YQ/label-120646641.zpl",
"href": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/WJe_Vy3P20K8TUEt-a_5YQ/label-120646641.pdf"
},
"form_download": null,
"insurance_claim": null,
"packages": [
{
"package_id": "se-127246591",
"package_code": "package",
"weight": {
"value": 10.00,
"unit": "ounce"
},
"dimensions": {
"unit": "inch",
"length": 10.00,
"width": 10.00,
"height": 10.00
},
"insured_value": {
"currency": "usd",
"amount": 110.00
},
"tracking_number": "794699375744",
"label_download": {
"pdf": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/e1CdkA2cKEmtkFTHl5Jpjw/labelpackage-127246591.pdf",
"png": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/e1CdkA2cKEmtkFTHl5Jpjw/labelpackage-127246591.png",
"zpl": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/e1CdkA2cKEmtkFTHl5Jpjw/labelpackage-127246591.zpl"
},
"label_messages": {
"reference1": null,
"reference2": null,
"reference3": null
},
"external_package_id": null,
"sequence": 1
},
{
"package_id": "se-127246592",
"package_code": "package",
"weight": {
"value": 20.00,
"unit": "ounce"
},
"dimensions": {
"unit": "inch",
"length": 15.00,
"width": 15.00,
"height": 15.00
},
"insured_value": {
"currency": "usd",
"amount": 200.00
},
"tracking_number": "794699375788",
"label_download": {
"pdf": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/eJHEkrjJx0C3TA1lE_U3ww/labelpackage-127246592.pdf",
"png": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/eJHEkrjJx0C3TA1lE_U3ww/labelpackage-127246592.png",
"zpl": "https://api.shipengine.com/v1/downloads/10/eJHEkrjJx0C3TA1lE_U3ww/labelpackage-127246592.zpl"
},
"label_messages": {
"reference1": null,
"reference2": null,
"reference3": null
},
"external_package_id": null,
"sequence": 2
}
],
"charge_event": "carrier_default"
}

Label Downloads

We consolidate all of the labels for a multi-package shipment into a multi-page PDF or ZPL file. Currently, we don't support the PNG format for multi-package shipments.

This is the master tracking label, the first label in the series.

The second label also includes the Master Tracking number on it.